These sites provide online global maps as well as tools for interacting with them.

Wikipedia List of Online Maps
external image Cambridge-Openstreetmap-11-05-27.svg
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Website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_online_map_services#Global_on-line_maps
Distribution:
In browser
Anonymous User:
View and run any of the listed map website options
Logged-in User:
Save special locations (on some sites listed)
Email Use:
Required for log-in account creation (on some sites listed)
Paid Option:
N/A
Comparison:
Large variety of map options, not especially interactive
Description:
Provides an up to date list of all the major interactive world map websites
available. If one map becomes blocked or unavailable, one of the others has
relatively similar features and zoom resolution
Uses:
User could Identify geography of a country being studied, play Where in the world is
Carmen Sandiego, bird's eye view of local neighborhood

Scribble Maps

http://scribblemaps.com/(in browser)
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Website:
http://scribblemaps.com/
Distribution:
In browser, flash plug-in required
Anonymous User:
View, create, edit and share a scribbled map
Logged-in User:
Import spreadsheets and save maps to account
Email Use:
Required for log-in account creation
Paid Option:
Remove ads, (log-in access will be paid, free during the beta)
Comparison:
Easy to add onto the map and to share, map scrolling and
tools can be sluggish
Description:
User can add shapes, text, and freehand lines to google maps
tools are also available for adding images, measuring distance
and area and sharing the map with others.
Uses:
Students could submit scribble maps as solutions to a
geography scavenger hunt, map historical wars or migrations,
find the area of a country

Google Earth

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Website:
http://www.google.com/earth/index.html
Distribution:
Download (Windows XP, Mac 10.5 or Linux)
Anonymous User:
Download and run Google Earth
Logged-in User:
Save locations and add 3D models to the database
Email Use:
Required for log-in account (allows users to make a gmail
account if no email address exists)
Paid Option:
Upload GIS data, 3D measurement data, Enterprise support
Comparison:
Very robust rendering of the earth, easy to navigate,
limited interactivity options, sometimes slow to load
Description:
User can fly around the world rendered in 3D. Users can turn
on or off different layers such as 3D models, political lines and
outlined roads. Users can also create virtual road trips by
saving a series of locations together
Uses:
User can identify geography of a country being studied, play
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego, bird's eye view of local
neighborhood


TerraClues
Terraclues.png

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Website:
http://www.terraclues.com
Distribution:
In browser
Anonymous User:
View and play terraclue scavenger hunts
Logged-in User:
Create and share scavenger hunts
Email Use:
Required for log-in
Paid Option:
N/A
Comparison:
Easy to create scavenger hunts, straightforward clue and
and treasure creation tools, limited interactivity beyond
scavenger hunts
Description:
User chooses a point on the map and a zoom level the player
must be at or below while looking at the location in order to
trigger success. The user then writes a description of the place
in the clue section. For longer scavenger hunts, additional
places and clues are created.
Uses:
User can identify geography of a country being studied, play
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego, bird's eye view of
local neighborhood

Geocaching

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Website:
http://www.geocaching.com/
Distribution:
In browser
Anonymous User:
View log-in screen
Logged-in User:
View, create and find Geocaches
Email Use:
Required for log-in
Paid Option:
Rate, create cache lists, map certain caches, use statistics
Comparison:
Easy to use, large community involvement, limited privacy
settings, difficult to use beyond a local context
Description:
User becomes a member of a world wide game of hide and
seek. Website contains locations of tuppareware sized and
smaller containers which contain trinkets and lists of those
who found the cache previously.
Uses:
Teach path-finding and gps co-ordinate reading skills, gain a
stronger sense of local community, explore otherwise vacant
parts of the neighborhood.